Dublin claim comfortable win over Westmeath in Leinster U20 football opener

Five different Dublin players kicked a point apiece to put them 0-5 to 0-0 ahead at the end of the opening quarter. A Brian Cooney free soon put Westmeath on the scoreboard, but a close-range goal from Karl Flynn all but killed the game off in the 22nd minute.

Centre half back Clyde Burke kicked two points in an outstanding first half display, and his side led by 1-9 to 0-2 at the break.

An early brace from the impressive Paul Reynolds Hand – the first of them from a free – increased the winners’ lead on the change of ends.

Despite the sending off of Dublin’s Jamie Smith in the 47th minute – a black card to follow an earlier yellow – Westmeath never looked like making their numerical advantage count.

The winning goalie David Leonard had nothing to do all evening, but was still alert enough to deny Shane Corcoran a goal with a wonderful save in injury-time.

Scorers – Dublin: K Flynn 1-2, P Reynolds Hand 0-4 (2f), C Burke, J McCarville 0-3 each, L O’Boyle, D Murphy, M McNally 0-1 each. Westmeath: B Cooney 0-2 (2f), T O’Donovan, E Bracken, S Ormsby, R Cole 0-1 each.

Dublin: D Leonard; S Kirwan, F Bruton, E Nugent; J Smith, C Burke, C Duggan; C McMorrow, M Gardiner; D Murphy, P Reynolds Hand, L O’Boyle; M McNally, J McCarville, K Flynn. Subs: R Fahey for Duggan (41), P Kelly for McNally (41), J Brady for Flynn (51), S Ryan for O’Boyle (52), O Donohoe for Kirwan (60).

Westmeath: S O’Driscoll; A Keane, C Monaghan, S Bracken; L Daly, J Macken, D Lowry; T Baker, S Ormsby; T O’Donovan, B Cooney, E Bracken; R Murray, S Hanley, S Corcoran. Subs: J Duncan for Baker (inj., 22), R Cole for O’Donovan (h-t), M Thornton for Murray (40), D Franzoni for Bracken (56).

Ref: K Williamson (Offaly).